About the South Texas Watermaster Program

The South Texas Watermaster Program is responsible for managing surface water rights in an area in south central Texas based on “run of the river" rights. Five field deputies patrol a 50-county area from offices located near their jurisdictional areas and they oversee a dynamic system of rivers and tributaries. The watermaster allows diversions as water is available and as it passes individual diversion points.

The watermaster program informs individuals and groups as needed concerning water rights and other matters related to availability of surface water. The program also responds to complaints and may follow up with enforcement actions if necessary.

Deputies provide services such as measuring reservoirs to insure compliance with state law requirements. They perform Doppler measurements on diversion water pipes and may set stream-flow markers to help water right holders comply with guidelines. The watermaster utilizes a database to document the amounts of water authorized and used.

The watermaster program will also update and maintain water rights ownership records as well as annual fee assessments that are due on each water right account.